Shloka 25
Śaraṇāgatapālana—Prastāvanā
Protection of the Refuge-Seeker: Opening of the Kapota Narrative
बकवच्चिन्तयेदर्थान् सिंहवच्च पराक्रमेत् । वृकवच्चावलुम्पेत शरवच्च विनिष्पतेत्,“राजा बगुलेके समान एकाग्रचित्त होकर कर्तव्य-विषयका चिन्तन करे। सिंहके समान पराक्रम प्रकट करे। भेड़ियेकी भाँति सहसा आक्रमण करके शत्रुका धन लूट ले तथा बाणकी भाँति शत्रुओंपर टूट पड़े
bakavac cintayed arthān siṁhavac ca parākramet | vṛkavac cāvalumpeta śaravac ca viniṣpatet ||
Bhīṣma bersabda: Seorang raja hendaklah merenung tujuan-tujuannya dengan ketenangan yang terpusat seperti bangau; hendaklah menunjukkan keberanian seperti singa; hendaklah merampas harta musuh dengan serbuan mendadak seperti serigala; dan hendaklah menerjah musuh seperti anak panah. Demikianlah, dalam etika pemerintahan, pertimbangan dan pengekangan mesti dipadukan dengan kekuatan yang tegas apabila perlindungan negeri menuntutnya.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches a fourfold model of royal conduct: careful, single-pointed deliberation (crane), courageous execution (lion), swift opportunistic seizure against hostile forces (wolf), and decisive, rapid action at the critical moment (arrow). The lesson is to balance thoughtful planning with timely force in protecting the kingdom.
In the Shanti Parva’s instruction on rajadharma, Bhishma advises Yudhishthira on practical governance. Here he uses animal and weapon similes to describe how a ruler should think and act when dealing with political aims and enemies.